The Birthing Story

Last Sunday arrived without any birthing activity and we decided to reach for the Castor Oil which is kind of like Napalm for midwives. The idea is to create more room for the baby by blasting out the alimentary canal. This process also produces prostoglandin which helps to "ripen" the cervix. If there are still any Viet Cong in the delta after that, they usually try carpet bombing; maybe burn a few villages. I swirled the 2 oz dose into a chocolate milkshake and handed the oily potion to Laura. Two sips sent Laura to the toilet wretching and me to the CVS for another bottle. After another try and similar results, we gave up resigned to another day without a bouncy baby. Napalm didn't help in Viet Nam either. I went off to the gym and Laura began to practice Chopin's "Marche Funebre" Sonata.
At around 5 PM, Laura was reworking the development of the 1st movement, when a severe contraction caused her to play some appoggiaturas not included in the Paderewski edition. I was browsing office supplies at Staples, weighing the merits of "Day-at-a-Glance 2006" vs "Week-at-a-Glance 2006" and gently musing on my "Decade-at-a-Glance" life when my cell phone rang with a special urgency. If I didn't have caller ID, I wouldn't have known that screaming banshee on the other end was my darling Laura. I rushed home to find Laura writhing on the bed with the portable phone clutched in her hand. I extracted the phone and heard the voice of Julia, our midwife. "Could you start timing the contractions and call me back?" Instead of the required 1 minute contractions every 4 minutes, we were getting 2 minute contractions every 1 minute. "Oo, that was a doosie," said Julia when I had her back on the line.
Shortly before 6 PM Laura's water broke and Julia said to bring her in to the Birthing Center. Laura was encouraging me to use poor driving techniques as we barreled down Lacaster Ave. "Get in the right lane! Pass him, pass him!!" she screamed, or "It's yellow! Go, GO!!" Several times she reached over to honk the horn at pedestrians and slow moving vehicles. We arrived at 6:45, Laura started pushing at 7:20 and the baby was born at 7:30--some kind of Birthing Center record, especially for a first time mom....
Ok, that's the basic story. Check back for a report on the actual birth and what we've been doing since. -- Joe

Our Friend Ceci Showed Us How to Make A Harvey Hoagie

 

First Visit To Dr. Frank King, our pediatrician

Eyes Wide Open!

First Bath

The Birthing Team

Joe changes Harvey's diaper--a first for both

Harvey Measures Up

Harvey With Mommy

Little Baby Harvey--no days old

Harvey Sebastian Kerr!!

Harvey Sebastian Kerr, 7 lbs 12 ozs, 21 inches
Born: 9/25/05 7:30 PM

6:10 PM

Looks like the Castor oil might have worked! Stay tuned.

Castor Oil

Laura tried to take the Castor oil, but it backfired. We're going to try again in a minute. In the meantime, we're playing Scrabble. Harvey is in the lead with Joe and Fiona tied for 2nd and Laura trailing.

Sunday Morning

Sunday morning and the sounds of newborn exhuberance have yet to pierce the air...in other words, ain't no baby!! Laura is resting peacefully. I've got a bottle of Castor oil waiting for her when she wakes up.

Joe

Hurricane Fiona

The National Weather Service has reported yet another category 5 storm which is stalled in waters off the coast of Pennsylvania. Residents would like to flee but can't. Screaming winds and high waters are expected...stay tuned!

I'm Not Really Pregnant After All

We went into the Birth Center today for a check-up thinking that the BIG DAY had arrived. The midwife examined me and sent me home. The baby is not ready to come out yet. Apparently this "prodromal labor" could go on for another day or so. She gave me some castor oil and sent us home. I think a better term for these on-again off-again contractions is "pro-drama labor". When we got into the car I burst into tears saying, "People will think I'm not really pregnant afterall. I've just been walking around with a pillow under my shirt!"

Meanwhile we're supposed to distract ourselves by going to the movies. I think at $18 a pop to go to the theaters, we will have spent more money on waiting-for-baby film-going than on the $125 copay that is required for the entire 9 months and delivery!! ---Laura

Friday Morning

After a fitfull night the contractions have actually acheived the proper 4 minute frequency! We are now waiting for the midwife to call back. There's the phone! She said to come in for a check-up. Here we go....stay tuned

Contraction Site

All day yesterday Laura consistently had contractions every 15 minutes or so, but not the required 411 (every 4 min, for 1 min, for over an hour). It was maddening. Last night we even managed to make the tail end of our last birthing class where Laura sat in the corner wincing with pain as we watched a wrap-up video on all that we had learned over the last 6 weeks. One of the couples already had a baby and had it at the birthing class. Everybody was oohing and aahing over the little girl--all red-faced and pink-swaddled. We were so jealous! Amy, the birthing instructor, suggested we take in a movie to get our mind off things. We drove to the nearest theatre which, at 10 PM was completely dark--nice try.

Thursday Morning 6:45 AM

I got up this morning ready to go to work in NY when Laura told me her contractions were starting again. They are now occurring about every 7-10 minutes. Stay tuned.....

Pic from yesterday: 9/20

Past Due Date

Yesterday we went to the birthing center and they told Laura a lot of technical stuff: she's 3 centimiters dialated, she's 50% effaced, her cervix is in -2 position....which all spelled B-B-B-A-B-Y!!!!! C-C-C-O-M-I-N-G!!!! We went home and she started having contractions, some as close as every 10 minutes and I freaked out. We had nine months to get ready, but nothing was ready! The bassinet had no sheets and was in the wrong place. The changing table was full of junk. Was the carseat installed properly? I looked at the handout from the birthing center for guidance: where were the onsies and the receiving blanket?; were the cameras charged? Slippers? Robe? Chapstick?; food--we're supposed to bring food...apples, bananas...roast beef? lasagne? those weird crackers from Trader Joe's??? Meanwhile, Laura was either in bed doubled over with pain or at the piano playing songs from Showstoppers of the 20s, 30s & 40s stopping occasionally to report on the contractions or the lameness of the arrangements. At about 8, the contractions suddenly stopped. We had left-over lasagne, split a Harpoon beer, and watched Sex and The City. Stay tuned--today could be very interesting.

Due Date!

Well, today is the due date! Everyone is looking at Laura like a pot of spaghetti water about to boil. This is a strain on Laura and can also be very draining. The doula is coming at 10 for an interview. Better grate the Parmesan--Joe

Operation "Get Baby OUT of Belly"

Spicy Foods, Walking, Cleaning, Raspberry Leaf Tea, ....we're doing it all! Tomorrow is the due date. Everyone is making bets. Had 3 contractions in the last hour. Could this be it? Or is it a false alarm. We promise to keep you all informed.

Nursing Class

Last night in birthing class a "lactation consultant" taught us breastfeeding techniques. We liked the "football hold" which allows the mother to check her email, vacuum and hail cabs while nursing. Hopefully, Laura won't try to drop kick for the extra point---just kidding, just kidding(Laura is glaring at me right now). They also showed us an interesting technique for dealing with "engorged" breasts (breasts too full to nurse) involving crushed ice and cabbage leaves. I believe this technique was developed by Chef Emeril of The Food Channel.--Joe

A Few More Chores

Today we are washing the newborn clothes and installing the carseat which is quite tricky! Even Joe who is the master of IKEA directions had to spend a bit of extra time figuring it out and wound up consulting the Oldsmobile Manual. Today a young woman stopped me in the whole foods to ask advice about morning sickness. I felt like an old pro:) Last night when I got up for my 4:30 AM hourly pee trip, the baby kicked me really hard on some nerve...I screamed so loud I thought I was being electrocuted or something. I guess HarveyFiona is working on his/her grand entrance.

Nesting

I am definitely NESTING like crazy. I walk around behind Joe with a vacuum cleaner. I have cleaned out EVERY file. I had the car detailed the other day. The closets have been cleaned out, but I am convinced that they need a REAL overhaul. I am already thinking that I need to start making Lasagna and Casseroles and freeze stuff so there is enough food when the baby comes. I sit around making endless lists (of course I have yet to DO everything on the lists) It is NUTS.... I hope the baby comes before they put me in a straight jacket

Shower Girls

Here's a photo from the fabulous shower held at Amy Nislow's house. Many thanks to Amy and Barbara, and all the generous ladies who attended!

Shower Day

Today is shower day. I'm going to drop Laura off because dads aren't allowed. I guess I'll go bowling or something--Joe

Last Flicks

We have been advised to go out to the movies and see all the films that we want to see now; that this is our last hurrah. So, we slipped out to the Bryn Mawr Film Institute on Monday to see The Constant Gardener with Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz. It's a great film and we gave it a thumbs up. It's a pretty serious movie though, and at times Joe was looking over at me afraid that certain scenes were a little too disturbing for an expectant mother. Actually what was really disturbing to me was the discussion we had in birth class the ensuing evening on episiotomies, c-sections and other "unexpected outcomes".

The Baby Dropped

The baby has moved south! Any day now.

Labor Day?

Enjoying the weather on this good neighbor day, wondering whether today will be LABOR DAY!!!

Our Old Blog

7:58:59 AM EDT
Thoughts For Tuesday April 5
Yesterday our baby celebrated its 16th week in the womb. I swore I felt something swishing around in there. Joe said he'll love what ever we give birth too....even if it has webbed feet! I am hoping that the morning sickness is finally on the wane so we experience the joys of the second trimester, although just yesterday and last Thursday I got the DHs yet again.

7:57:11 AM EDT
Thoughts For The Day--March 7
Today our baby is 2 1/2 inches long. I, however, have gone up two sizes in my pants. Somehow that doesn't seem to correspond.... ahh, the mysteries of pregnancy!

Friday, February 25, 2005
12:43:16 AM EST
Fortune Cookie
Last night I realized that I would have to start buying some larger clothes to accomodate our growing peanut. I set out to the department store, but I was too hungry to make it and instead took a detour to the Wing Wah chinese restaurant. Afterwards I was too tired to shop, but I did muster up the strength to open the fortune cookie. It said: You are going to have some new clothes.

Thursday, February 24, 2005
11:10:41 AM EST Feeling Mischievous
Names you can't name a Kerr
We're compiling a list of names you shouldn't name a Kerr so that mistakes will not be made: Hank, Lee, Fay, Cain, Hanna, Stan, Wayne....let me know if you think of any others.
From Bob: Bro, Spinna, Poh, Lih, Tink, Think, Pink, Mangy...
From Suzanne:How 'bout: Bon, Craig, (only if residing in UK), Lucy, (oh hell),Mona, Stan (did you say this already?)
From Chita: Ann, Lake,Po, Rock, or Vick ?
From Mary Wallace: I would definitely nix the following , Octavia, Wanda, Winifred Trixie, Trudy, , Minnie, Gladys, Penelope, Daphne, Gertrude, Hortense, Bulah, and Brunhilde, Mabel, Euphemia, Vernon, Waldo, Linus, Ludwig, , Ebenezer, and Elbert for starters....the list could go on
Jennifer Carnahan:
How about Baby Jesus?
Avoid Sue or Ann. Sara and Chad

11:07:03 AM EST Feeling Ecstatic
Grandma
An old Nicaraguan saying: "A baby is born with a loaf of bread under its arm."
Saturday we told my Mom. We heard about Beth putting a message in a fortune cookie and giving it to Mary Wallace, so we went down to the Alamo and bought this little hillbilly jug with the Alamo on one side and "Grandma" on the other. When we gave it to my mom she said "I'm not your Grandma." Then she read the note inside and was ecstatic. We all had a good cry in bed with Teresa and the yorkies. Then my mom took off her engagement ring and gave it to Laura. So I guess they're engaged now.

Tuesday, February 15, 2005
9:35:43 PM EST Feeling Happy
Thoughts for Friday--Feb 11
Laura: I visited the birthing center today in bryn mawr. it gave me a really good feeling about the whole process. and the chocolate milkshake i had this afternoon gave me a really good feeling, period.

9:33:13 PM EST Feeling Happy Hearing Dinu Lipati
Our Baby
Yesterday my heart cracked wide open. I just wanted to sit in that semi-dark room and watch our baby on the monitor all day long. The heartbeat looked like tiny tears dropping into the middle of a little kidney-shaped swimming pool. One little nub of a hand waved howdy--it's a Texas baby.

Birthday Bag

This weekend I started to pack my bag for our big day at the Bryn Mawr Birth Center. I thought that a little overnight bag would do, but it is already full and I haven't gotten the "celebration meal" together or the "coming home outfit" or the sour lollipops and about a dozen other items that are recommended in Pregnancy Childbirth and the Newborn . The birthing suites are so fantastic, maybe we could sublet our apartment in Wayne and just stay on a little longer.

Funny Bunny

Rebecca Ostrovsky gave me this card.